Electrical distribution circuit directory



Aug. 12, 1969 M, LEVY 3,450,281

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT DIRECTORY Filed April 19, 1966 BY/ W AOQ U 3,460,281 ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTIQN (IHRCUIT DIRECTORY Marvin J.Levy, 2133 Kenwood Piace, Bellmore, N.Y. 11710 Filed Apr. 19, 1966, Ser.No. 543,677 Int. Cl. (20% 7/00 US. CI. 40-63 3 Claims ABSTRACT (2F THEDISCLOSURE An electrical circuit directory which is to be located at amain fuse or circuit-breaker box, the directory being in the form of achart divided into a group of individually numbered major blocks, onefor each fuse or circuit breaker, each block on the chart beingsubdivided into minor sites for accommodating pre-printed,pressure-sensitive labels for identifying the lights or other devices onthe circuit branch related to the major block in question, the number ofthe block corresponding to a number applied in sticker form on the fuseor circuit breaker.

This invention relates generally to electrical distribution circuitdirectories, and in particular to a directory for correlating the fusesor circuit breakers in a given installation with the light fixtures,outlets and other electrical elements controlled thereby.

In electrical light and power distribution systems, whether in ahousehold or in commercial or industrial establishments, the protectivefuses, circuit breakers or other control elements for the variousbranches of the circuit are generally centralized in a commondistribution box. In the typical modern household, because of theincreasing use of electrical appliances the distribution system isrelatively elaborate, usually involving no less than six to eight fusesor circuit breakers. Even a modest household now has, in addition tostandard lighting circuits and outlets, special lines for airconditioners, oil burners, washing and drying machines, and homeworkshop equipment.

In factories, it is not uncommon to have twenty or thirty circuitsbranching out of a distribution box to feed machinery and processingequipment as well as to supply lighting fixtures. Restaurants, ofiicebuildings, and hospitals all make use of large distribution boxes forelevators, refrigerating equipment, operating rooms, and otherelectrically powered devices. A problem frequently encountered in allsuch installations is that of identification, namely which fuse orcircuit breaker controls which branch of the system. While thisinformation may be gleaned from original circuit diagrams, these requirecareful tracing of the circuit by a skilled electrician, and cannot beread by the average householder or factory operator.

For example, in the typical household, should the livingroom lights goout but those in the dining-room remain lit, it is obvious to thehouseholder that power has not failed, but only that a particular fusehas blown. He then goes to the fuse box and there he is confronted withan array of, say, eight fuses, but no means of singling out the blownone. What be normally does under these circumstances, is to determinewhich fuse has blown by the process of elimination or trial-and-error.

This is a time-consuming and annoying procedure, for the householdermust first turn on all of the switches in the house and then one by oneunscrew each fuse to establish a correlation between the selected fuseand the lights and other elements controlled thereby. It is possible inan eight-fuse system to have to unscrew seven fuses befores discoveringthat the remaining fuse is the defective one. Moreover, with the fusebox in the basement, while this 3,460,281 Patented Aug. 12, 1969procedure is being carried out by one person, another person must reportthe result of unscrewing a given fuse, or the effect thereof cannot beseen in the basement.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide adirectory which serves to correlate each fuse, circuit breaker or othercontrol element in a distribution box with the various light fixtures,outlets and appliances on a common circuit branch controlled thereby.

While the invention will be described herein in connection with ahousehold circuit directory, it is to be understood that the sameprinciples are applicable to commercial and industrial installations toprovide a key to the protective devices in the distribution box.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide adirectory which is to be located at a main fuse or circuit-breaker box,the directory being in the form of a chart which is divided into a groupof individually numbered major blocks, one for each fuse or circuitbreaker, each block being subdivided into minor sites for accommodatingpre-printed pressure-sensitive labels for identifying the lights andother devices on the circuit branch related to the major block inquestion, the number of the block corresponding to a number applied tothe fuse.

Thus one using the directory can at a glance locate the blown fuse orthe proper circuit breaker, for knowing, say, that the lights in thebedroom are off, he can, by consulting the directory, immediatelyidentify the fuse controlling these lights, thereby ending guesswork anddelay in restoring the lights.

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects andfurther features thereof, reference is had to the following detaileddescription to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fuse box having labels applied to the fuses, which labelsbear numbers corresponding to the numbers on the major blocks on thedirectory; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit directory in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a typical household fuse box 10 having two rows of four fuses,each fuse serving to protect a specific branch in the distributioncircuit. It is to be understood that the simple box shown is merely byway of example, and that in practice, in lieu of fuses, circuit breakersor other elements may be employed in more elaborate arrangements.

Attached to the head of each fuse is a round pressuresensitive sticker,each bearing a different number. Since eight fuses are involved, thestickers are numbered 1 to 8 to identify the fuses (or circuitbreakers). Since fuses must be replaced on occasion, the consumer isgiven several stickers having the number 1 thereon, and so on, to beapplied to replacement fuses. Alternatively, each numbered sticker maybe applied in the box at a position adjacent its related fuse so as notto require replacement.

The directory, as shown in FIG. 2, is in the form of a chart, preferablyformed of a laminated plastic sheet or other relatively stiff,long-lasting material, the chart being suspended on the wall at aconvenient location which is either near the main fuse orcircuit-breaker box or at any suitable place in the garage, basement orworkshop area.

Since we are, by way of example, dealing with a fuse box containingeight fuses, the directory has printed thereon eight major blocksidentified by numbers 1 to 8. In practice, a chart containing eightmajor blocks is suitable for an installation having no more than eightfuses, and where, say, only six fuses are involved, two of the blocksremain unused. However, in the event additional circuits are added tothe household, the two reserve blocks may then be used foridentification purposes. It will be ap preciated that the chart may beprinted with any desired number of major blocks for larger commercialinstallations.

Each block is subdivided into eight smaller rectangular areas or sitesadapted to accommodate pressure-sensitive labels which are receivedwithin the site guidelines. The labels are pro-printed with legendsappropriate to a typical household, such as kitchen lights, dining-roomwall outlets, etc. Within the major blocks designated by nu meral 1,labels are applied to the sites therein having legends identifying thoselights and other elements operating on the circuit branch controlled bythe correspondingly-numbered fuse.

Thus in block 1, as shown in the drawing, there are applied labels forthe lights, appliances and wall outlets in the kitchen, as well as thedinette lights and wall outlets; block 2 has bathroom, den and basementlabels; block 3 is for the workshop, the remaining blocks being used forother circuit branches.

If a directory is made up by the electrical contractor at the time thecircuits are installed, the householder is thereafter able at a glanceto locate a blown fuse whenever a light or appliance lacks power. But ifthe directory is made up at a later time, the householder must organizethe major blocks by trial and error, by unscrewing each fuse and thendetermining the branch element controlled thereby. But once this is doneand the directory is established, the householder will have no furtherdifiiculty.

The directory in no way alters the electrical circuits, its purposebeing only to organize and correlate the existing circuit installation.

The directory may be assembled as a package, with the labels for thechart and the stickers for the fuse box being placed on backing sheetsfrom which they can be readily peeled off for application to the chartand fuses, as required.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment ofelectrical distribution circuit directory in accordance with theinvention, it will be appreciated that many changes and modificationsmay be made therein without, however, departing from the essentialspirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical circuit directory for an installation having a centraldistribution box containing control members, each of which is in theform of a fuse or a circuit breaker which is associated with aparticular circuit branch and acts to control electrical power suppliedto lights, outlets and other elements connected to said branch, saiddirectory serving to correlate said control members and said elements,and comprising:

(a) a chart having a series of major blocks printed thereon eachdesignated by a distinct numeral, each block being subdivided into agroup of minor sites, said chart being of a sheet material onto whichpressure-sensitive labels may be readily applied and removed,

(b) a series of pressure-sensitive stickers equal in number to saidblocks, each sticker having a number thereon corresponding to arespective block and being applicable to the control members in said boxto correlate the members to the blocks on the chart, and

(c) a plurality of pressure-sensitive pre-printed labels each bearing alegend identifying an element powered by said installation, those labelsidentifying the elements powered by a particular branch being applied tothe sites in the corresponding numbered block on the sheet material,whereby one may at a glance locate that control member which has causeda loss of power anywhere in the installation.

2. A directory as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chart is formed bya laminated plastic sheet onto which pressure-sensitive labels may bereadily applied and removed.

3. A directory as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are at least eightmajor blocks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,366,968 2/1921 Starrett 40-1522,254,810 9/1941 Will 40-142 X 2,936,540 5/1960 Power 4063 OTHERREFERENCES Instruments and Control System, August 1961, vol. 34, p.1458-1461.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WENCESLAO J. CONTRERAS, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

